THE Association of Parliamentary Journalists (APP) published a statement on Wednesday in which it condemns the attacks of ‘EDATV’ against informants who work in Congress and the Senate, after the day before its director, Javier Negre – convicted at the time for having fabricated an interview – lied in headlines and bordering on “coercion” – was confronted by an ABC editor after she asked one of her employees not to post images of her on social media.
The organization, which plans to seek protection against Madrid Press Association (APM) Already Federation of Journalists Associations of Spain (FAPE)deplores the “serious insults” towards journalists from a “small minority of accredited journalists” who, with a “repeated attitude”, attempt to destroy “the constant, professional and excellent work of parliamentary journalists, in a very free, plural and diversified in which political and parliamentary life takes place Until the emergence of EDATV, which considers all journalists as “supporters of the government”, there was no problem of coexistence, even s. They worked in media as diverse as “Público” and esRadio.
The APP recalls that all Congress professionals must “respect the ethical standards of the journalistic profession”. “Any behavior that hinders the exercise of journalistic work, whether on the part of politicians or informants, constitutes an attack on the right of citizens to truthful information. A right that belongs to citizens and not to journalists or politicians,” recalls the press release which warns: “They can threaten us, scold us or slander us. These attitudes will in no way diminish the desire of the vast majority of journalists who work in Congress and the Senate to carry out their work.
The association leaves it up to congressional authorities to put an end to “unacceptable acts and behaviors” that “even conflict with the chamber’s own rules.” Complaints on this subject are repeated, without the services of the Lower House having yet provided a solution. Negre released a clipped video like after every press conference.
‘EDATV’ also published an article that lies in its title, because it falsely claims that journalists defended the spokesperson of the PSOE in the Lower House, Patxi López, and in which it highlights, with a photo, his name and last name, the professionals who criticized Negre for his behavior. A private discussion between so-called colleagues ends up spreading without their permission as if it were news in a biased and distorted manner.
The incident occurred at the end of the press conference of the PSOE spokesperson in Congress, Patxi Lopezwhen Negre spoke without having his turn to ask the socialist “who he thinks he is” to “insult and intimidate” Vito Quiles, a person accredited to the Lower House who appeared on the lists of the anti-system electoral group The party is finished. During his long question, as usual, he began to insult the parliamentary journalists and accuse them of maintaining a “complicit silence”.
Faced with the attack, the informants began to leave and the socialist López declared: “You have succeeded again”. As Negre was about to begin speaking, one of his staffers began recording with his cellphone in the congressional press room, focusing on him, who was sitting next to an ABC editor. It is forbidden to record images with the telephone in the Lower House, as the press officer of the socialist parliamentary group reminded this worker, to which he replied: “You have no shame, report what you want.”
Since “EDATV” entered Congress, it has been common for its employees to record in unauthorized spaces without any consequences. The ABC editor-in-chief who covered this morning’s press conferences asked the EDATV employee that her image not appear on his social media and warned that otherwise she would be denounceable, for a few moments before the appearance of Txema Guijarro in the room, by Sumar. At that moment, Negro faced him and asked, “You’re afraid, aren’t you?”
Several colleagues came to the ABC editor-in-chief’s defense and Negre attacked them with insults. He called one a “thug”, the other a “government palmer”, then accused everyone present of defending the executive and said goodbye by sending a message to a journalist from La Sexta: ” Salute Ferreras.” This tension between so-called colleagues was unprecedented before Congress decided to accredit “EDATV” to the Lower House.
